The Puck Stops Here

The New York Rangers have attempted to cheat some of their (former) players out of the money that they bargained for in contract negotiations. Both Bobby Holik and Jed Ortmeyer had contracts with signing bonuses that were pro-rated over the course of their contracts. The New York Rangers argued that they did not have to pay these bonuses for the 2004/05 lockout season, because the players did not play. An arbitrator ruled (correctly in my opinion) that if these are signing bonuses, they are paid to players for having signed their contracts and not for actually playing. The Rangers are on the hook for $3.5 million to Holik and an undisclosed sum of money to Ortmeyer for the portion of their signing bonuses that were not paid during the lockout. This is an example of a failed attempt of the NHL to stiff players for monies that they are owed. This is an example of what the NHLPA needs to be fighting to prevent.

Here is TSN's story on the ruling.